What Now?
We started this blog with a simple goal – to disseminate information about the SCUSD and its relationship with VAPAC. We had hoped that others would read, add information about their school sites, and that we could build this to become a forum for discussing matters of concern throughout the SCUSD and its schools.
Unfortunately, we fell far short of our goal. But we carry on undeterred.
It seems, over this summer, that many are heeding the call and responding to postings, sending emails, and otherwise getting the word out. We believe that for our voices to be more effectively heard by those in authority, we need to expand our efforts. And to be taken seriously, we need to deal with facts and not innuendo. So, here is our modest plan:
(a) We would like any teachers who read or contribute to get their colleagues to do likewise about their school sites. We hope to traffic in both the positive and negative of this district so don’t feel that you need to complain to contribute… just contribute.
(b) We would like readers and contributors to send this link to their colleagues and other concerned parties. Let’s try to hear from all the voices.
(c) We would like to see parents and teachers set up blogs about their individual school sites if possible. Send us the link, and we’ll add it.
(d) Let us hear from you. We will strive to be more diligent about being current, but it’s difficult when we don’t know what is of concern to everybody else.
With the many charters coming up for renewal, consent decree high, the future VAPAC (if there is one), the myriad of new administrators coming on board and countless other changes affecting the educational futures of our children, this is a good time to expand our efforts.
All it takes is some concerned individuals. And a few keystrokes.
We hope to hear from you…
Unfortunately, we fell far short of our goal. But we carry on undeterred.
It seems, over this summer, that many are heeding the call and responding to postings, sending emails, and otherwise getting the word out. We believe that for our voices to be more effectively heard by those in authority, we need to expand our efforts. And to be taken seriously, we need to deal with facts and not innuendo. So, here is our modest plan:
(a) We would like any teachers who read or contribute to get their colleagues to do likewise about their school sites. We hope to traffic in both the positive and negative of this district so don’t feel that you need to complain to contribute… just contribute.
(b) We would like readers and contributors to send this link to their colleagues and other concerned parties. Let’s try to hear from all the voices.
(c) We would like to see parents and teachers set up blogs about their individual school sites if possible. Send us the link, and we’ll add it.
(d) Let us hear from you. We will strive to be more diligent about being current, but it’s difficult when we don’t know what is of concern to everybody else.
With the many charters coming up for renewal, consent decree high, the future VAPAC (if there is one), the myriad of new administrators coming on board and countless other changes affecting the educational futures of our children, this is a good time to expand our efforts.
All it takes is some concerned individuals. And a few keystrokes.
We hope to hear from you…
222 Comments:
Thanks for providing this forum. At least some information is getting out.
Remember to check out the CDE website for test scores and API reports August 31.
I looked at the data currently posted for Sac Charter's test scores from last year, pretty dismal. I don't see how they are predicting a 38 pt. jump in API.
The 38 pt. jump is correct from sources within ST HOPE which they got from sources within the state.
You can say I said so when the results come out.
Check out the comments from Johnny in the thread below.
how sad and pathetic it is that st hope has fallen so far from there original "pillars" and "mission." a rhetoric that once included mantras of building the "finest high school in America" now wants to throw mud on its critics by saying, "we will have 38 point jump on our api." stand up indeed!did they go to karl rove's school of misinformation and illogical propaganda? oh how wrong we have all been. ignore the students--the few who are still there--who are being ill served. the faculty who are lied to and left in the dark, the community who has been devastated. but i can see the bee headline now: st hope shatters the educational barrier of inequality. today, 38 point jump, tomorrow 39! mr. johnson considers presidential run--and we support him!
If we keep experiencing such devastating news from our schools, (you can sing the same story about ruined lives from more that one campus) in this district and the response from all involved is "we don't have anyone brave enough to step forward, with enough clout to step forward, with enough money to step forward and outpower them with the Bee," shall we once a for all, in mass, look at this district. SCUSD - what is going on???? Everyone who has been crushed has gone underground and will not stand up. This is very, very sad and very, very scary. What do you do when there is so much fear of an establishment? This is all so illustrative of the times we live in now, isn't it.
Friday August 31st the CDE will release API results and we will all know the truth.
We will all know the truth. The other questions is how many students does ST HYPE have at the present time? Latest numbers requested they were below 990.
Also look out for KCRA 3 report on Sac Charter
Definitely below 1000.
Isn't it amazing that a story on hair is what makes the news. Not the sexual abuse of students, not the failing test scores, not the high turnover of manangement and teaching staff but hair. Amazing.
This whole hair thing is laughable. It reminds me of the early posts on this blog dealing with vapac. I also have to laugh at the quotes attributed to "School Administrator Ronnie West". This is a kid that doesn't even have a degree. The only thing that qualfies him to be an administrator is that he is KJ's brother.
st hope talking point #156 : pink hair ravishes test score. abolish at any cost. and using st hope logic, this will then enable them to discount the api score because the pink hair so distracted the learning environment that "administrator ronnie west" was unable to call upon his vast expertise in the field of education and overcome the huge elephant in the room (dewey, piaget,and gardener all wrestled with this educational conumdrum: what to do about hair color and educational promise and then decided collectively that, "IT DOESNT MATTER!"). . . if ronnie west is an administrtor, does that mean that kevin is the now the lord of heaven and earth? and what then are the make-believe titles of ms rhee, or dana, or p.k?
How do we see or read whatever it is that you are talking about regarding hair color and about Kevin Johnson's brother?
Is it legal for someone at the California Dept. of Education to be telling St. HOPE what their scores are ahead of the release date? Does CDE do this with other school districts?
heidi, check out kcra. they reported it yesterday. it is now on their website.
heidi, as to the cde, yes, schools and districts found out today. the public learns on friday. it will be on the cde website
"Anonymous" us here and Heidi know that STHOPE found out about three weeks ago what the test scores were looking like due someone who deals with charters and on boards. This will soon be investigated by the media and warrants national coverage from NYC cable news stations.
The KCRA 3 Story:
Student At Odds With Sac High Officials Over Hair Color
Administrators Say Restrictions Aim To Prevent Gang Problems
http://www.kcra.com/news/13989225/detail.html
The ACLU should take up the case with STHOPE. Did you know the "School Administration" was not looking at the camera when speaking?
Stay HOT PINK!
.. and..b... the reason for that ..
KCRA 3 Poll Results so far:
Do you think there should be a school policy regarding a student's hair color?
Choice Votes
Percentage of 787 Votes
Yes 410 52%
No 377 48%
It seems that STHOPE has struck again and had the staff go online and click YES to the poll.
All data from the CDE is released early to school districts. For instance, API data was released yesterday and embargoed until 8/31. However, I have never heard of a school or district receiving info weeks ahead of time.
Maybe they do move a lot of points maybe they don't, but the long and short of the matter is that they keep losing enrollment -- enough that they have to bring a middle school in to keep up appearances. The numbers do not support the continued use of that campus, and the taxpayers have to pay for construction costs to support the small school movement (look at the new site for AC off Routier Rd. How much is that costing?) Just re-open the real Sac High and give St. Hope McClaskey when AC leaves or at least another site that can better accomodate their numbers.
administrator ronnie west. that is still funny. according to the cde and scoe, guess which of the following is true about the aforementioned adminstrator at sac high: 1) ronnie west has a college degreee, nope 2) ronnie west has a adminstrative credential, nope 3) ronnie west has ANY credential, nope 3) ronnie west has completed a fingerprinting and background check, nope 4)ronnie west has taken a tb test, nope. are we really that concerned, with that kind of resume backing their present leadership, that st hope will keep its charter? really? then truly the end is near.
Makes you wonder about oversight? Does anyone hold these people accountable?
why would ronnie west be any different than his brother kj?
Has Kevin Johnson been fingerprinted and had a background check? Do charter schools have to comply with that law, or is it only non-charter, public school teachers and volunteers that need to go through the hoops?
ALL schools must comply with that law. Kevin was fingerprinted last spring after a complaint was filed involving him. If you recall the incident with the women in their health office being charged with having sex with boys last year she was never figerprinted and had a criminal history. St. Hope doesn't believe the laws apply to them.
API and AYP will be released to the public today. Any bets the Sac Charter doesn't have a 38 pt gain as claimed?
Okay, let's start a pool. I'll say no improvement.
I'm gonna say -5
After calculating CST scores and Cahsee pass rates amongst other items I'm guessing 17 points.
Anonymous # 2 is guessing 18 pts.
Anonymous #3. How about AYP? I say +12 on API and not meeting AYP.
Anonymous #2 is sticking with the +18 and agrees with the not meeting AYP.
I agree, no on the AYP.
I am looking for other parents of Vapac "Victims" who have not received refunds on yearbooks from last year. I want to know if anyone has contact info for the DLC's and how we get our money back. Its bad enough what we have all had to deal with on the lack of correct transcript issue, and now they decided not to print the yearbooks because they were $4000 in dept with the printers...its not fair to our kids! Lets not be the DLC's victims--lets make them pay what they owe us! Anyone want to stand with us on this ?
Who was right on the API?
I was! 18 points! Closest, anyway. Who's got the pool? I want my money! Give me my money! And they didn't make AYP! Give me my money again!
Number of students included: 723
So, how do you figure the AYP from the API? Anyone willing to comment on the performance of the small high schools? Genesis seems to be the only one that improved. That's good. Within the context of how low they were, it isn't surprising that a few changes would produce results.
Does this report meant that Sacramento Charter is going to be a year 2 program improvement school?
Yep. Year Two PI
sac charter did not meet the graduation rate criteria for ayp. Last year it was ELL students but that number is so small now it is not signifcant. Seems strange with all the bragging about the % of students going to college that they did not meet the graduation rate. Also their inside source at CDE obviously struggles with math, because the gain in api looks like 18 points not 38. st hype just can't help the lies and misinformation.
Small High School's performance, like big, is tied to who runs them. Poor managemnet equals poor performance. If you look around the state or county their are small schools doing well.
momstandingstrong said...
GET OVER IT. You need to check. Those yearbooks are done and the DLC's have nothing. You constantly blame the wrong people in this mess. How very, very sad
"I am looking for other parents of Vapac "Victims" who have not received refunds on yearbooks from last year."
Did you follow the instructions on scusd.edu and contact Terry Mott TMott@pacbell.net or 916-207-3362.
Do that and then report if the yearbooks are not at the central office.
I guess that almost all of our small high schools have poor management because all of them performed more poorly than the year before, except Genesis. In the case of Genesis it seems to be a very segregated small high school. I'm glad that they have improved, but it still isn't good enough.
Any body know anything about a Sac Charter student being the victim of a drive by shooting last week on their way home from school?
student shooting was on the news. she was at a party over the weekend and was shot. that's what channel 3 reported.
The location for the Consent Decree High School is supposed to be decided at the Sept. 20 SCUSD Board Meeting. Does anyone know if SCUSD has done any outreach to the Elmhurst neighborhood? Obviously the "old board" wants to put the high school at Marian Anderson. That is a terrible location for a 800 student high school.
Also, does anyone know why the modernization of the Sacramento High School facility, currently occupied by Sacramento Charter High School, is taking so long?
they ran in to mold issue when they opened up the walls and that has delayed the project.
Sac Charter enrollment now low 900's.
You can expect more delays on the Sac High modernization project because they will find the same problem when they start working on the other side of the school. That's if they don't run out of money.
Everyone let's Welcome
Tom Barentson to the blog. As he views this blog on occasion. The CFO of over a 350 million dollar district reading this blog what ?
It is probably the best source for information regarding sac charter that he can find. I'm sure he knows that he can not trust anything he gets from st hype. And the district sure doesn't spend any time on campus getting a honest evaluation. everytime they are on campus they are led around only able to see what the powers want them to see.
Does anyone see the irony of sac charter, last spring, touting their college acceptance rate but not making AYP because of their graduation rate?
I really see the irony of a supporter of Sac Charter bragging in an internet posting on the Bee website about how many of their graduates go to 4 year colleges and how this is all because of Sac Charter having uniforms. The posting was in response to the story about CK McClatchy administrators banning the color red. It is unacceptable that Sac Charter, or any other charter, can dump students back into the regular schools if they are not satisfied with a student's behavior or performance. I hope their AYP results mean that they are now a year 2 program improvement school.
Yes, sac charter is now a yr. 2 program improvement school. With that consider that they are now serving 700 fewer students than when they took over the campus 4 years ago. While booting kids they don't want and attempting to operate like a private school and still failing to improve. That should tell you what a screwed up mess it really is.
On the Sept. 20 SCUSD Board of Education there is an item concerning the Consent Decree High School. I haven't seen the agenda, so I don't know the exact time, or the item number. The item is an hearing on the Environmental Impact Report that was done for Marian Anderson as a potential site for the Consent Decree HS. I don't know if it is an action item or not. It is a good time to tell the school board what you think of placing a high school at that location.
Marian Anderson is on the agenda as item 9.2 at 8:49 and Item 10.3 at 9:24. Item 10.3 is the board voting on whether or not to adopt the report. Public Comment is now at 8:24. If you have comments about the Mitigated Negative Declaration for Consent Decree High School at Marian Anderson School Site you should say something at the SCUSD Board Meeting on Sept 20 at the Serna Center. The place to make those comments would be during the Public Hearing which is Item 9.2. Supposedly the environmental report is on the district website- www.scusd.edu
Sorry, I used the wrong word. The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for Consent Decree Hgih School is what you should find on the district website.
The SCUSD Board of Education meeting tonight begins at 6:00 pm. At around 6:30 there is a discussion regarding student achievement and Data. If anyone out there reading this blog thinks that there is a problem with academic achievement you should come to the meeting and give the board and Supt. your opinion. Otherwise it will probably be a dog and pony show.
If there are folks who have read the Mitigated Negative Declaration on making Marian Anderson into the Consent Decree High School come and say something during the public hearing. Somehow the contractors were given the information that Marian Anderson was a)still an elementary school and b) had an enrollment of 345 students in the 2006-07 school year. That is incorrect information. In 2006-07 it was the Marian Anderson Therapeutic Center and had served severely emotionally disturbed students. The enrollment, according to a SCUSD report was 50. The difference in traffic generated by 800 high school students vs. 50 students is much greater than 800 vs 345. The findings of the Mitig. Neg. Declaration aren't accurate because the basis for the calculations is 345 elementary students. Someone needs to re-do their "homework". Read the article in today's Bee. There is an interesting quote from Bill West.
Are the Sacramento Charter/St Hype Principals looking for positions at other schools? It is known that Ed Manansala was at another district.
Talk about Kanye West whining, I think PK does the most whining at Sacramento Charter, as of late it has got worse, he has been whining and knit picking about every little thing.
Free Dress day today here at Sacramento Charter! What happen to our uniform policy?
Does anyone have the outcome of last nights board meeting on the Marian Anderson site?
The September 20, 2007 Board meeting will be broadcast on Metro Cable Channel 14 on Sunday, September 23 at 9:00 a.m. and on Monday, September 24 at 12:00 noon. A VHS copy will also be available for checkout from any City library branch.
I urge everyone who visits this blog to watch the meeting. Post what you think of how the attorney explains the errors in the Mitigated Negative Declaration on Marian Anderson.
Does anyone know an attorney that specializes in CEQA? The Mitigated Negative Declaration doesn't identify the existing Children's Center in its Environmental Review - Initial Study portion. It identifies sensitive receptors (people) as being present only at U.C. Davis Medical Center. Legal Counsel Jerry Behrens stated that the Children's Center will continue to operate at the Marian Anderson location. So why aren't those children mentioned in the Mitigated Negative Declaration?
The Board of Education voted to approve the resolution accepting the Mitigated Negative Declaration. Board members Grimes and Navarrette voted against the resolution. Members Young, Houseman, Jennings, and Hernandez voted for the resolution. Board member Bell was not allowed to vote because Legal Counsel Jerry Behrens advised her that she has a conflict having been one of the litigants in Rogers, et el., v. Governing Board, et al. A member of the public asked why Board Members Jennings and Young were allowed to participate since they had had to stand in front of Judge Burger-Plaven ( I may not have spelled the judges name correctly)for contempt of court. Watch the meeting (see above posting) to hear the response to that comment. The next step is for the board to meet and choose a site for the Consent Decree High School. If the Marian Anderson site is chosen it will be the only high school that is not in a residential area of any kind, and the only high school where the students will have to go to another high school to fulfill their Physical Education graduation requirements. At least that is what it sounded like to me. Watch the meeting.
Thanks and I will watch it.
free dress day...what, students can't earn those? you people are so stupid....
RE: free dress day...what, students can't earn those? you people are so stupid....
Calling us stupid? Why don't you communicate to us the parents of the students who go to Sacramento Charter about the free dress day?
Does Sacramento Charter High School have an auto shop class there?
no auto shop at Sacrament Charter.
Hey, st hype is all about communication. They pride themselves on their ability to communicate. The problem is they have confused communication with manipulation.
No ROP auto shop class, no auto shop class of any kind? I went to the St. Hope website and it is very difficult, perhaps impossible, to tell what courses are really offered. Are you sure there is no auto shop class of any kind? Would there be any other reason to have a hydraulic pit?
There was a "change order" on the 9-20-07 SCUSD Board of Education "Consent Agenda 11.1 d)" that included:"provide exterior hydraulic pit; Enlarge kiln room" for Phase 3 of the Modernization at Sacramento Charter High School. It is characterized as a "Standard Change Order" and was initiated by the "District, Architect"
Are you sure there is no auto shop?
Also, is there a website which accurately lists the classes and small schools which currently exist at Sac Charter?
There is a shop on campus but not in use by St. Hope (currently in the part of the school being renovated)but even before that it was used as the janitor's storage, general storage room. Never used for a class.
RE: Are you sure there is no auto shop class of any kind? Would there be any other reason to have a hydraulic pit?
The school is undergoing modernization these changed could well be related to that.
OR
Could be the plans for when SCUSD takes back Sacramento Charter.
No auto shop and the sac charter web-site is outdated. It still talks about the small schools and partnerships which don't exist anymore. It lists classes that are not offered. Like everything to do with the organization it is hype not reality.
the st hope site still lists Knight and Pegany as principals and 4 schools. Knight is no longer at sac charter and Pegany is back at PS7. while the site shows 4 small schools there is just 1 school with a division between wings and 2 principals. it a far cry from the vision when they opened. and if they hold true to form they will be reorging everything soon
Knight is employed by sthype but not at sacramento charter, her income is around the same as her principal salary, as heard around the oak park area, she is working far away from Sacramento.
It must be hush money to keep her from spilling her guts.
AUDITORS!! AUDITORS WE ALL CALL FOR AUDITORS!!
Re: "change order, Provide exterior hydralic pit"
Kevin must need a new playroom
What is Sacramento Charter Enrollment?
below 900
Just called Sacramento Charter, a student answered I asked how many students are enrolled they put me on hold and then gave me the number of 973 students enrolled. That does not mean all students attend though she muttered. Why do students have access to this information? That is the real question.
I would hope that student information is protected but that enrollment information would be public. The staff tells me that actual attendance is close to 800. That's a long way from the 1650 sac charter started with the 1850 # used in all their press releases and published materials. It's been 5 years of lies and misinformation.
at least the student was honest.
So is there a 7th grade and or 8th grade co-located with Sac Charter this year? How many kids in those grades?
Yes, they are technically part of the ps7 charter. Don't know how many.
This seems to be all about STHYPE these days why not create sthopewatch.blogspot.com
Anyone see the story on CBS13, "Mentoring Program Helps Student To Beat The Odds" Sac High Contributed to the story
"Kudos to Sac High"
The word Kudos stands out especially if the story came from St Hope.
"Way to Go homegirl" Ron Jones CBS13 did he seriously say that at the end of his report. seriously?
Full Video:
http://www.cbs13.com/video/?id=25418@kovr.dayport.com
Called Sacramento Charter, and an adult not a student answered this time.
I asked her the numbers for 7th and 8th grade she said that for seventh grade forty-five students, and eighth thirty-five students. I then asked her the enrollment number for ninth through twelfth she said it is at 969 . When I looked at my post in the past that number is down by 4 since Wednesday
Amazing that sac charter would get "kudos" for just contributing to the story. They ran Jean Crowder out of sac charter and they don't have a mentoring program since McGeorge pulled out of their partnership with the school. How the hell do they get hype for things they don't even do.
Oh and even the 969 enrollment # is a lie.
The 969 enrollment # may be true just not all those students attend everyday. I will try to get clarification on the amount of students in each school small school at Sacramento Charter, but rumor is this year they are running as one school, one vision, and with two principals.
"one school, one vision" is a direct quote from the st hype reorg plan. It is a clear violation of their charter since the charter states they will have a minimum of 4 small schools.
Total enrollment, 7 - 12 grade, of 1049 is a far cry from the published enrollment put out by st hype. Doesn't seem to make sense that you would tie up a campus that can house 2000 students for 1000 kids. The district I'm sure has a better place to house st hype and could utilize the Sac High campus in a more efficient way. st hype will probably counter with anticipated growth because of the middle school but their track record does not back that claim up. They have dropped from 1600+ when they opened to 969 and over the 5 years the sac charter enrollment has declined every year.
Actually, they opened with 1652.
When the next SCUSD board meeting in which STHYPE will be mentioned?
The next board meeting which will include a discussion of the Sacramento Charter High School facility will be the one where the board discusses the final location of the Consent Decree High School. The capacity of the facility which houses Sacramento Charter High School is somewhere between approximately 2200 and 2800 depending on which numbers suit SCUSD Assistant Superintendent Bill West best. He has used both numbers at different times. Maybe SCUSD has arranged for the "modernization" to decrease the capacity of that facility.
Now is the time to communicate by email, or phone, with all board members about the underutilization of the facility. Clearly some board members get more information from staff than other board members. The decision on where to put the Consent Decree High School has to happen in October. Even if it is not on the agenda for the next board meeting, you could come and state your opinion during public comment on non-agendized items. Currently that "public comment" is in the middle of each board meeting or towards the beginning. If it is a "special meeting" there is no public comment on non-agendized items.
Bottom line, if you are serious about SCUSD not giving preferential treatment to St. HOPE, and not wasting bond money on converting Marian Anderson into an inadequate high school, you must come forward and speak. Postings on this blog are not enough.
Look at the Bee'e report:
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/431260.html about Kevin Johnson and his corporation. Isn't it time that someone did something to stop his control over St Hope/Sac High and his abuse in Oak Park. Go to the board meeting! People need to speak out.
We can only hope this is the start of the Bee's investigation. There is so much more to look at. The comingling of public school $'s and the private for profit entities. A brother and mother on the public schools payrolls. A CFO and attorney who represent both the public schools and private for profit businesses. Or how about the numerous CPS reports concerning kj. Let's hope this is the beginning.
The board I believe is going into the next board meeting with the intention of converting Marian Anderson. This comes in light of meeting/talking with St Hope last week.
The Bee for once got tired of ST HYPE feeding them information, the media will too soon.
Another front page story today about Kevin Johnson and properties:
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/434475.html
st hope is a broken, disfunctional, corrupt organization that needs to be dismantled in the area of education and real estate develpment.
The two articles will be national news tomorrow starting at 5am Pacific.
The Sacramento Bee's Articles have got ST HYPE all riled up. I am sure the bee will be running a lot of Editorials in the coming weeks but may censor the ones from known ST HYPE employees most likely.
you people are a bunch of assholes with nothing to do.....shame on you. sure glad you're not a teacher, administrator, concerned citizen/friend of mine.
sounds like all of you are as stupid as i originally thought. you actually believed that biased bullshit of an article?? and it will be national news by the morning...really? there's a war going on right now.
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http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/436370.html
Funny, now the Bee is publishing "biased BS", that was not the st hype position 5 years ago when they were able to control and manipulate all of the press concerning their take over of Sac High. Wow have things changed. Now when the press is recognizing the broken promises and failure to deliver on the part of kj and st hype it is "BS". What happened to "no excuses" Kevin? St hype is supposed to be about developing leadership, kj needs to step up and own his failures and mistakes, but that won't happen and that is why he is a failed leader. He gladly steped up to have Oprah pat him on the back but runs away when he has to face adversity and tough questions. He sends those that follow him out to be sacraficed instead but never recognized them when they were doing the real work that got him his recognition. Thinking about it, I guess that real makes him a coward. Sure wouldn't want to be in a fox hole with him.
Everything that KJ has worked on has been about him. Oak Park is an opportunity to make money. The non-profit re-development at 40 acres increases the value of any property that KJ personally owns in the area. The effort to make Sac HS a success story was not about contributing to the community. It was about increasing the value of the properties KJ holds. People pay more for a house if there are good schools in the neighborhood.
Agreed and that's why he is in the fix he is now. Today's Bee column really described him quit well. He can't be told anything, runs off good people, burns out others with his crazy behavior and refuses to listen to opinions contray to his. If you disagree, you are disloyal so everyone around him just learns to nod. KJ knows best.
The BEE is on the look out for those ST HYPE employee editorials, they suspect that they will use false names as they always do.
What do you mean ST. HYPE employee editorials? Are you speaking about letters to the editor, or genuine editorials?
the Bee didn't care before about multiple and probably won't care now.
I'm sure st hope is in a strategy meeting right now with Kevin telling them what to think and tasking each employee to write a letter to the editor.
They should follow his leadership example and say nothing.
From the ad for the upcoming fundrasing event: "More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will focus on "the art of education," celebrating St. HOPE's commitment to providing educational, cultural, visual and performing arts to students and the community."
"The Art of Education" from a group of people who know nothing about education-funny.
Visual and Performing Arts...What has the introduction of St. HOPE done for arts education at Sac High? What a crock.
Is this going to turn into another
Bee column?
No letters to the editor from ST HYPE people published.
At the board meeting, ST HYPE brought the children again
The Board meeting will be broadcast on Metro Cable Channel 14 on Sunday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m. and on Monday, October 22 at 12:00 noon.
How do we find out who paid for the bus that transported so many of the St. HOPE students and adult supporters to the board meeting tonight? I wonder if taxpayer dollars paid for it? Somebody who reads this blog, who knows the inside scoop, needs to stand up and tell the SCUSD Board of Education the truth. Now is the time. You really could make a huge difference. St. Hope submitted their charter renewal tonight and it appears that there really are some people on the board who want to do the right thing by the community. If you don't come forward there is no way that the board members will have the information you possess, which will make an accurate evaluation of St. Hope's program at Sac Charter very difficult. St. HOPE always paints a blissful picture of Sac Charter and SCUSD staff seem incapable of presenting an accurate perspective to the board.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me," he said in closing.
KJ in the Sac Bee 10/19/07
Articulate to to say the least.
Heidi,
St. Hope Public Schools is a public entity that, if you request, must provide the information. They have open board meetings, subject to the Brown Act, that are open to the public. They intentionally schedule the meetings in the middle of the day so as to make them inconvient for the public to attend. Public comment is always at the beginning of the meeting.
Anonymous, do you know to which address I should send a Public Records Request? I think that is a better way to find out than to go to a meeting and make public comment. Paper trails are important.
Heidi,
Kevin Johnson paid for the bus, it would be ridiculous for ST HOPE to use public funds.
Public Record Requests can be sent to:
ST HOPE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3400 3rd Ave
Sacramento, CA 95817
Send it certified.
Nice to know st hope is reading this blog.
ST HYPE HAS POSTED A NEW POSITION ON EDJOIN EARLIER THIS WEEK:
Director of Communications and Marketing
http://www.edjoin.org/viewPosting.aspx?postingID=225934&countyID=34
WHILE YOU ARE ALL APPLYING FOR THAT POSITION WHY DON'T YOU APPLY FOR PRESIDENT OF ST HOPE INC.
http://www.edjoin.org/viewPosting.aspx?postingID=225938&countyID=34
NICE SALARY HOPEFULLY NOT PUBLIC FUNDS.
IS THIS WHERE THE MONEY FROM THE ST HOPE DINNER GOES?
Let me echo Heidi,
I have read allegations here of misappropriation of funds, mis-treatment of teachers and staff, funny business with attendance info and even allegations of quite disturbing criminal behavior involving children. Folks who read this and know the real story must contact board members and the Bee reporters who have been writing about Johnson's neglect of his properties. Otherwise, all we have are provocative blog posts...in the meantime, Johnson will continue to use the children as he angles for a charter renewal.
Lori,
It has been done. I have spoken directly with two SCUSD board members and many SCUSD higher ups as well as with the current and past Sac Bee reporters but to no avail. Leaving St Hype, a term I believe I coined, was the closest I hope to ever come to a divorce. The wounds have healed but I still at times feel crappy knowing I was played for a sucker.
When the board meetings come I will read about them in the paper but not act because this is a small town relatively speaking.
I can't see how KJ and crew can keep this sham going. I wish he would have neglected his school leaders like the news articles discuss him neglecting his properties-maybe they'd still be there.
Once SCUSD hears the parents, community members and SCUSD employees whose necks aren't on the line during the uncoming public meetings then I can't see how Sac High can stay under St Hype rule. They tried, they changed, they changed again and for what? The district literally can't afford to NOT take back our school.
SCUSD must take this as a lesson learned and make sure that there is never a need for such upheaval again.
The Bee needs to dig beyond the Development scandal and look at the whole organization. So many people have left the organization, management, administrators, teachers and staff that there must be literaly hundreds of ex-employees willing to talk with the Bee if they seek them out. These people may not be willing to step up in front of the SCUSD Board but may be willing to be interviewed.
To Johnny's father carter,
I don't know what the size of Sacramento has to do with anything. Are you afraid something will happen to you if you speak in public? You may have spoken to board members, SCUSD staff, and reporters, but non of those sessions were public. The public needs to hear your story. I do not understand what people fear if they go public with information regarding Sacramento Charter High School. By not going public you are complicit in the effort to allow Sac Charter to continue regardless of the consequences for high school students.
There is no reason for the SCUSD Board of Education to vote against renewing the St. HOPE charter unless people with first hand knowledge come forward. The public needs public testimony, not blog chatter, in order for their to be real pressure put on the school board.
If someone is threatening you, you should go to the police. If you are not afraid of personal retribution, your stance to just sit back makes me wonder if you are telling the truth. Sunshine is the best protection there is. If you truly are afraid to speak the truth, say that, in public, to the SCUSD Board of Education.
And I will say this: For what it's worth, I pledge to stand with you and all others willing to publicly come forward and let the sunshine in. I'm sure others will do the same.
I want my mommy...
jfc,
why is that?
Say, what happened to Ms. Asimos and Ms. Kidd? I was at Sac High the other day and couldn't find them, and nobody would talk to me about them.
Former student of the School of Media and Communications
Of the 60 - 70 staff members that started at sac hi 5 yrs ago you might find 5 or 6 still there. st hope will tell you that # is reasonable turnover for a school. i find that hard to believe.
As a former school leader, I can vouch for the fact that a 95% turnover would only make sense if the school had been hit by a tornado ... with all of the teachers in it.
In the real world that kind of turnover would cause a board to re-examine the leadership of the organization and possibly make substantive changes at that level.
KJ is the board.
The current principals are tired and they only are in their current position as a leader due to the pay raise they got this year (extra hush money as some might say) over 100k must be nice
Anonymous,
Is the bee investigating with a public information request? Or does there need to be a formal investigation for someone to realize what is happening?
There is already knowledge that Sacramento Charter officials KJ included have meet with the state testing officials and got the API numbers way ahead of the release date.
Anonymous,
I applied for the new ST HYPE president position.
Anyone else apply?
Anyone know the latest enrollment at ST HYPE ?
Around 960 for the hs and 80 for the middle school.
So Karen Young will again side with ST HYPE on charter renewal any information she gets from Sac City she will of course hand over to ST HYPE for them to gain a strategy.
Karen will definitely carry the torch for st hope.
To anonymous who applied for the pres position, WHY?
They most likely applied to see if the position was bogus. That position accounts for 18% of ST HOPE dinner revenue.
Correction: 28% of the ST HOPE dinner revenue.
next two new small high school input on placement meetings:
Monday, October 29th
Oak Park Community Center
3425 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 30th
St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church
3996 14th Avenue
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Who represents the district at those meetings?
You have to wonder why the district is holding all of the meetings in Oak Park. Oak Park was a small piece of the original Sacramento High School attendance area.
Does anyone know the timeline for the consideration of Sac Charter High School's charter renewal? Does anyone know when the SCUSD's public hearing on the charter will be? If you don't want the school's charter renewed then you better show up at the board meeting. It could be the first board meeting in November. SCUSD staff love to rush items like this through without letting anyone except charter proponents know about it. I'm sure that Sacramento Charter High School is fully informed about the public hearing. The public hearing is the place to question the renewal of the charter.
More community members came out tonight to represent Oak Park and voice concerns towards ST HYPE. At the next meeting there should more
The St. Hope charter renewal is on the SCUSD Board of Education agenda for a public hearing this Thursday, Nov. 1. There will also be a report on the community meetings regarding the Consent Decree High School.
It is obvious the SCUSD higher ups not just the SCUSD the board will give ST HYPE what they want. We need some good investigative reporting from the media on this.
Anyone know if there is any truth to the rumor that a student had a staph infection about a week ago at Sacramento Charter?
Does anyone know if ST. HOPE has modified or changed the charter? Is this the same charter that they brought before the board in 2003? The agenda background information only says that it is a renewal. If there are material changes it should be considered as a new charter. The Education Code that is quoted for the public hearing is 47607(b). In the past staff and the pro-charter board members have only wanted to hear supporters and not anyone who didn't think the charter should be approved or renewed. Does anyone know if this interpretation of the Ed Code can be challenged. Also, unlike legislative hearings, there is no questioning by board members during the "public hearing". What is a public hearing?
Whether documented or not there are material changes. The school no longer has the minimum 4 schools as stated in the charter. They only have 2 principals and do not have counselors for the 4 schools they claim to have. Their own internal reorg plan states that they will operate as "one school, one vision". They have failed to meet the needs, as stated in their charter, of EL and Special Ed students. They also have not followed the suspension/explusion policies outline in the charter.
AS A TEACHER I KNOW THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 800 KIDS ON CAMPUS EACH DAY -EXCLUDING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL - HERE AT SACRAMENTO CHARTER, ABOUT 150 STUDENTS OR MORE ABSENT EACH DAY.
The Sac Charter agenda item is 10.2 . The agenda says it will be taken up at 8:21. It could be earlier. If you have information about Sac Charter, then you should come to the meeting and fill out a yellow card. There is no information, aside from the single sheet, about the charter in the board information packet. It is very surprising that the hearing is on Nov. 1st when the charter was not even fully submitted until Oct. 23. I wonder who was responsible for scheduling it so quickly. Does anyone know?
Remember, if you do not speak there is no chance that this charter will not be renewed.
Heidi,
Start with SCUSD CFO Tom Barenston, then go up the ladder. ST HOPE has been trying to build a relationship with SCUSD for sometime to ensure the charter does indeed get renewed on ST HOPE terms.
Everyone ready for tonight? ST HYPE has been preparing students and staff all day.
They have there talking points, what a shame we know what they are already.
Anyone want to bet that kj does not attend. He doesn't have the courage. He will send others out to be sacraficed and then blame them if it does not go his way. What a Leader.
Talking Points! Talking Points! Did someone say Talking Points? I'll put that in my Work Plan when I get back to the Home Office and begin working at my Station in Phase Two. And then we'll have a Rosemary, or Rosewood for old time sake.
this meeting goes on and on
I know, let's have a short four hour meeting where we can discuss all sorts of ideas, like Pillars.
Did someone say Pillars? Pillars, pillars, pillars, Ah.....
Someone is clearly on the edge.
does anyone know if sac high met the LEGAL requirements for charter renewal? they only need to meet 1 of 4. don't assume that if we show up in opposition that sac high's charter will not be renewed.
get a life jillian!
get a life lisa!
Keep the personal attacks out of this arena. The purpose of this forum is to bring up the concerns about our schools and our children's welfare.
thank you. please do not taint this blog with issues that have nothing to do with the concerns of children in this city.
I got your pillars right here.
Can anyone share the events from last nights board meeting?
the only thing I know for sure is that Erik Jones is slinging the truth. Of all folks he should know. I hope he is listened to. If I were the Bee I would contact him.
Did y'all know that the kids that "support" St Hype get community service credit for showing up!?
Why don't kids chose to attend the board meetings-why must they be bribed?
Can this charter really pass? If so will KJ get the facility.
I THINK NOT. But remember KJ has juice and it's been all over the place.
Sorry but it's true.
Debate on Sac High charter status grows
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B1
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/470680.html
I thought Mr. Jones worked at Sac high charter for at least three years. Why did the article say that he worked there briefly?
Mr. Erik Jones worked at Sac High for over 4 years. That was a mistake to say he worked there "briefly." This is my 1st time at this blog. I find much of what's here very disturbing. It's difficult to sort out facts from fiction. The management of Sac High has been too big of a job for St. Hope. They should accept any downsized role--and move on--whether it is at Sac High or at some other site. Even with all of their mistakes and dumb decisions, I think they should still provide a high school program. What should not happen is all of these personal attacks--that's not helpful at all.
Mr. Jones worked at Sac High for almost 4 years. From what I understand, he left just before the end of the 4th year. If you want a reduced role or no role for St. Hope, tone it down and leave out the personal attacks. It is important to focus on the facts. Can't wait for this to be resolved!
There must have been quite a few souls hurt by their participation with St. Hope. I can't figure out what if anything happened in that organization to cause such hurtfulness to exhibit itself.
Many have been hurt, students, staff,parents and the community. There is a trememdous sense of betrayal. The original vision for sac high was incredible. The founding group of leaders you would follow any where. They were bright, commited and high energy. They hired people with the same qualities. They hired people commited to kids and making a difference in a student's life. It was an amazing time of hope, promise and results. Then the micro-mismanagement of Kevin Johnson took over and he drove off the commited, competent leadership and staff. Sac High is a shell of what it could have been. So, yes there are a lot of very hurt people out there. Think of the #s that have left the organization, it is in the hundreds over the last 4 1/2 years. Some of us continue the dream we just do it teaching in another school with kids that need us just as much. We haven't given up, it just couldn't be done at Sac with Kevin in the way.
The previous post makes a very perceptive point. I've only posted a few times to this blog, and have purposely tried to avoid the kind of personal attacks the writer describes. But having worked in Saint Hope, I know first-hand where a lot of the frustration and anger comes from.
The vast majority of employees within Saint Hope and Sacramento High School (both pre and post-takeover) are genuinely good people who want the best for kids. But many have felt demoralized as they watch their ability to serve those kids continually being hampered by the way Saint Hope has led the school. With little to no opportunity for staff to voice concerns (without fear of dismissal), a lot of people direct that frustration toward the most visible symbol of Saint Hope's leadership: specifically KJ and those most closely associated with him.
And frankly, it has seemed that KJ for a long time has purposely wanted to give the impression that he "pulls all the strings." There is a reason why Saint Hope staff meetings do not involve colleagues talking to each other, but rather KJ standing in the front of the room and his staff facing him church-style. There is a reason why Sacramento High School administrators are routinely "summoned" to see Mr. Johnson in his classroom. The reason is that this is the image KJ wishes to convey on how his school system should be run. Unfortunately, he fails to acknowledge what the vast majority of his staff sees daily: namely that this management style is not effective in running a school where teachers feel empowered to innovate and support their students. Those staff members brave enough to openly draw attention to that pattern (and there have been a good number) invariably end up no longer being welcome within the organization.
And why do so many people seem to express their sadness and frustration with Saint Hope anonymously? In short, they don't want to see their names dragged through the mud. Any employee who has worked on the district level of Saint Hope has seen this pattern first-hand. Staff who are hailed upon their arrival as outstanding assets become publicly demonized by KJ (or M. Rhee) a short time later. When you have witnessed your colleagues being treated in such a way, there are a lot of feelings of anger and sadness.
Finally, much of the emotion expressed on this blog by current and former staff (in my opinion) stems from the sense that a great opportunity has been squandered. Even if you oppose charter schools on principle, there are enough examples of strong charter schools across our state (Aspire, KIPP, Leadership Schools, etc.) to prove that Sacramento could be getting a better educational product at Sac High. That sense of frustration produces much of the anger you see expressed on this blog.
But unfortunately, all the anger and spite in the world doesn't produce a better school for Sacramento kids. Whatever the result of the charter renewal process, kids only benefit if direct and honest questions are asked in a non-accusatory manner. If Saint Hope ends up receiving the renewal, then at least the public and SCUSD has gone on record with specific areas that must be addressed. If they do not, then the decision can be based on facts rather than innuendo.
I have included a couple of specific questions I might suggest to be posed in future meetings that will lead to a more informed debate on this issue:
1. How do Sacramento High School's staff turnover numbers compare with those of high-performing California charter schools?
2. If PS7 is designed to serve as a feeder campus to Sac High, what percentage of 8th grade parents have already committed to enrolling their child at the school?
3. What percentage of Sacramento High School graduates STAY in college after their first year?
4. What specific courses are offered in each of the small schools to prepare students for their chosen career path? (i.e. Within the school of Math, Engineering, and Health Sciences, what courses are offered to prepare students in engineering or health sciences? Similarly, what courses in business and communications are available within the School of Business & Communications? etc.)
5. What percentage of Sacramento High students are taking AP courses?
These are just a few examples of specific questions that would make this debate a whole lot more substantive and clear. I am hopeful that this can be a forum in which such questions can be generated and then brought to the larger debate occurring across our city.
S
KJ/St. Hope--you blew up the old Sac High. That might be your best accomplishment. The last 4 and half years have been very trying for St. Hope and its employees. Please, honestly, ask yourselves "what would you do differently?" You and your organization are in way over your heads. You don't need Sac High to accomplish your visions of a K-12 system. Downscale your ambitions--and give back Sac High to the community--and move a St. Hope leadership themed high school to another site. You would be able to focus on education and less on fighting endless battles with your critics. If given a choice, what would you prefer: "to share the school with the consent decree campus" or "move to another school site." I seriously doubt you will be allowed to continue to operate the Sac High campus alone w/ little oversight from SCUSD.
You are asking KJ to do 2 things he can't, behave honestly and take the advice of others to evaluate st hopes performance. He can't do that. I am also a former sac charter teacher and can tell you it has taken over a year to really recover from the experience. I feel like I have finally closed that chapter and moved on as an effective teacher rebuilding my self esteem. There is a cult like atmosphere to the organization that creates fear and makes recovery when you leave tough.
and.... saint hope strategy is:
1) Contact all SCUSD board members and stakeholders.
2) Contact the Bee have them write a positive article. (wait for Lauren to come out with her article within the next two weeks)
3) Contact SCUSD the superintendents cabinet members.
I will add they will probably send out the "pipeline" to all the supporters to feed them good news.
Give up, you can not stop ST HOPE.
Okay, let’s work with this. KJ is notorious for micro-managing, up to a point where some good things that have happened have been killed off. He deserves criticism for this. But on the other hand, what did he have to work with? To start with, St. Hope entered year one with only 2 or 3 weeks to plan for the entire year. They made many bad hires because teachers/employees were so badly needed. Not surprisingly, some were fired by the 2nd or 3rd year. The turn-over was very high. St. Hope hired many emergency replacements which made things even worse. Inexperienced personnel had to step in—even as administrators/principals. New teachers starting their 1st year were thrown in and asked to teach some of the most difficult to educate students. This was all a recipe for disaster. St. Hope made some strides, but to expect them to turn it all around in less than 5 years is unrealistic. With what they accomplished, I think they at least deserve to continue in a reduced role. But it would be unwise to continue the same arrangement where they have control of the entire campus with little oversight.
They also made some great hires, that were not fired but quit during years 2 and 3, starting with Margret Fortune. There are no excuses for the number of quality staff that kj has run off. The blame rests squarely with him for sac charters failures.
Now we're talking. Actually, the number of "bad" hires is subjective. Yes, there were a few who just didn't have the skills or vision necessary to make things happen. What is disturbing is that so many quality staff, teachers and admin, elected to leave. There are only so many times that you can be lectured at about nothing before you say enough, already. I think I really objected to the use of the phrase "Socratic method" as a way of describing a frigging lecture. And he went to Berkeley! He received his degree and he doesn't have a clue!
That St. HOPE only had two to three weeks to plan their high school in 2003 is their own fault. I remember Margaret Fortune and KJ getting up and telling the public in January of 2003 that they could open in September. All they wanted was for the school district to approve their charter, close Sacramento High School, and turn the facility over to St. HOPE. That they claimed they could open their school without more planning time speaks volumes about their arrogance and lack of experience. Can any St. HOPE supporter tell me how the students who enrolled in 4 year colleges are doing today? What percentage need remediation? One way to accurately tell if St. HOPE is doing something good for students is to see if they are successful in college. It is St. HOPE that keeps talking about how many of their students have been accepted into 4 year colleges. Success isn't how many are accepted. Success is being able to do college level work and graduating from college.
Eric Jones spoke from personal experience about Sacramento Charter High School. That took real courage. Are there others who will speak at the next school board meeting and talk about their personal experiences? Are there others that will write to the board and ask how Eric Jones' comments are being investigated? There will be no change without pressure.
Give it up. ST HOPE is a lock for charter renewal and a new mou on the facility. It doesn't matter who speaks up or who they write letters to because ST HOPE is relentless.
Relentlessness equals neither integrity nor promised results. The conversation with SCUSD needs to be constantly re-directed toward those objectives.
Let's see, "relentless" what are some other terms or expressions that former St Hopers can associate with their experiences in the organization?
Floyd Flake
StHope Leadership Institute (a great example of the Socratic method)Blah, Blah, Blah
What's the SH version of the end justifies the means?
Come on Guys and Gals let's see how long the list can get!
How about a Rosemary.
It's Rosewood and I got your Rosewood right here.
It's Rosewood and I got your Rosewood right here.
Well then, "get on the bus or get run over".
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